Automobile crane shovel and the like



Dec. 16, 1941. o. M LEAN AUTOMOBILE CRANE SHOVEL AND THE LIKE 3Sheets-Sheet 1 N llll llllllll|l||||| 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 16, 1941.

v NTOR. (M.

ATTORNEY.

M 4. BY

Dec. 16, 1941. L. o. M =LE AN AUTOMOBILE CRANE SHOVEL AND THE LIKE FiledFeb 7, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet s INVENTOR. flow 7%MI BY W a Patented Dec.16, 1941 OFFICE AUTOMOBiLE CRANESHOVEL AND THE I Leland 0.McLeamlittsburgh, Pa. Application February '7, 1939, Serial No. 255,071

11 7 Claims.

This invention relates generally to vehicles having rotary tables suchas power cranes, power shovels, dump trucks and the like, and more vparticularly to the manner of rotating the table and propelling thevehicle.

Theprin'cipal object of this invention is the provision of a permanentlyengaged direct drive for revolving a rotary table on a vehicle and/orpropelling the vehicle from a source of power on the table. The rotarymovement of the table is generally known as the swing; An importantadvantage of this improved common drive is that it simplifies themechanical structure on the table and provides a single control formanipulating the swing or the propulsion independently orsimultaneously. Such a control is advantageous for power cranes,shovels, dump trucks and the like. g

In cranes and shovelsthe operation of lifting and loading may besynchronized with a back and forward movement of the vehicleto a greatadvantage. Again if the operator sees any approaching danger such as thefalling of material or'the sliding of the bank at which he is digging,he is enabled'to move the machine and himself back out of danger in lesstime than it would take to leave the machine. instances this isimpossible with the presentma- In many chine which frequently results inserious damage I to both life and'property.

, As applied specifically to cranes this improvement permits theoperator to swing the boom and travel simultaneously. Thus craneoperations may be conducted in close quarters as between columns orclosely stackedmaterial.

This'improvement provides many additional advantages in these and inother machines of v like character.

Another object'is the provision of a mobile substructure having a fullrevolving superstructure mounted thereon and provided with a source ofpower for revolving the superstructure and for propelling thesubstructure by means of a the vehicle from 'a source of power on thetable.

Other objects and advantages appear in the following description andclaims.

bodiment illustrating the principles of this invention is shown'wherein:I

Fig. 1 is a top plan view-illustrating a revolving table of anautomobile crane comprising this invention:

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken through the line 22 of Fig. 1, withparts broken away, showing the drive connection comprising thisinvention.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on the line 3'3 of Fig. '1, withpartsbroken away, showing the horizontal drive shaft mounted on top ofthe table.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the automobile crane.

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view showing the pneumatic control connectionsfor operating the chassis-brakes and the turntable brake.

Referring to the drawings, the vehicle or mobile substructure -I II ismade up of a chassis frame having front and rear axle driving assembliesll supported by the wheels I! which are preferably 'provided withpneumatic tires for highway travel. The front and rear axle drivingassemblies are connected by the drive shafts l3'to the intermediatedifierential I4 located approximately in the center of the vehicle. Thisdifferential in turn is driven by a chain from the jack shaft l5supported in suitable bearings mounted on the chassis. Abeveled pinionI6 is secured to one end of the jack shaft and is permanently meshedwith "the beveled gear I I mounted on the lower end of the verticaltubular shaft l8 supported by upper and lower anti-frictional bearingsl9 and. 20 as illustrated in Fig. 2. The

other end of the jack shaft is provided with a "brake drum 2| arrangedto be'engaged by a fricfour conically shaped hook rollers 25 rotatably ssupported on the inwardly extending stub shafts 26 which are mounted inthe brackets 21 depending from the under side of the table 24.

The brackets 21 are spaced relative to principal loadingpoints of themachine so that they will transmit the load to the chassis in such amanner asto' minimize the bending strains. The in- In the accompanyingdrawings a practical emwardly projecting stub shafts 26 and the brackets21 produce hook-like structures and permit the frusto-conically shapedrollers 25 to engage one or the other upper and lower mating surfaces ofthe annular track 28 in the perimetral surface of the circular casting23, depending upon the position of the load on the table.

23 represents a depending annular shield secured to the under side ofthe table and arranged to enclose the track 26 except where the hookrollers extend therethrough. This shield prevents dirt and other foreignmaterial from interfering with the operation of the rollers.

The circular casting 23 is provided with a base 30 having an upwardlyextending hub 3| in the center thereof which projects above the rest ofthe casting and the perimetral surface thereof forms the central bearing32 for the turntable 24. The upper bore of the hub is arranged to carrythe antifrictional bearing I9 which supports the vertical tubular shaftHi. 'The antifrictional bearing 20 which supports the lower end of theshaft I3 .is carried by the insert 33 secured in the center of the base30.

The bore of the vertical drive shaft |6 is arranged to carry the tubularsteering shaft 34 which extends above and below the drive shaft as shownin Fig. 2 and is connected at its upper end through the beveled gears 35and the horizontal shaft 36 to the base of the steering column 31 whereit is connected through another set of beveled gears to the steeringwheel 33. The lower end of the shaft 34 is reduced in diameter toreceive the worm 39, the threaded portion of which is arranged to beengaged by an inwardly projecting roller on the free end of the crank4|]. The crank 461s secured to the shortshaft 4| having the crank 42fixed at its other end andarranged to operate the steering rod 43 andthe steering gear 44 for guiding the front wheels of the vehicle asshown in Fig. 4.

The tubular steering shaft 34 is provided with connections at its upperand lower ends for conveying fluid under pressure to operate the brakesystem of the chassis.

Intermediate of its ends the vertical drive shaft.

I8 is provided with the pinion 45 arranged in constant engagement withtwo or three gears 46 rotatably supported on the vertical stub shafts 41which are secured to the base 30 of the circular casting 23. The gears46 in turn are in inesh with the large internal gear 46 rotatablysupported onthe hub 3| as indicated at 46 in Fig. 2. It will be notedthat the wall of the hub 3| is provided with openings for receiving thegears 46.

56 represents another internal gear formed integrally with the internalgear 46 and is larger in diameter. The gear 50 takes the place of thepresent circle or bull gear, which usually forms a part of the circlegear casting. This gear provides the means through which the vehicle ispropelled. The dual function of this gear is one of the novelimprovements comprising this invention.

The gear 50 is constantly in mesh with the Fig. 3. Each of the beveledgears and 56 has a radially extending disk 59 formed integral therewithand arranged to carry ,a plurality of stub shafts .60, each of whichrotatably support a planet gear 6| in constant mesh with theirrespective sun gears 62, secured to the shaft 51 and the internal gears63. v

The disk 53, of the gear 55, which is nearer to the operator's seat 64than the gear 56, is provided with 'a cylindrical brake drum 65 engagedby the brake band 66. This brake band is operated mechanically by meansof the brake lever 61 shown in Figs. 1 and 4. Since the brake drum 65 istied with the vertical shaft 52 it provides a brake for the swing whenthe table is free to rotate and the pneumatic braking system;controlling the brake 22 and the wheels H, is set, or it may be used fora parking brake when the machine'is not in use and the table 24 ismechanically locked to the circular casting of the substructure orthrough the mechanically operated friction brake means 63 shown in Fig.2.

The table brake166 .is fully engaged to lock the table to the chassisand the chassis brake system is released when the operator desires totravel along... the highway, thus requiring the pinion 5| to drive thegear 56 instead of walking therearound, which latter action causes thetable to swing. However by proportioning the frictional engagement ofthe brake 66 with the circularcasting, the table may be made to'swing asthe vehicle travels or the brakemay be made to operate in varyingdegrees from one function to the other. The operating cylinder of thebrake .63 is a spring set pneumatic release and its air chamber isdirectly connected with the pneumatic brake system of the chassis.

Referring again to Fig. 3 the internal gears v 63 are free to rotate. onthe shaft 51 and are provided with the cylindrical drum surfaces 16arranged to be engaged by a friction band 1| operated by the air-setspring release cylinders 12 which are controlled by the back and forwardmovement of the control lever 66 at the left of the steering wheel. Whenthese frictions are not set the sun gears 62 rotate planet gears 6|which in turn freely revolve the internal gears 63." If on the otherhand either friction is set its respective sun gears will operate theplanet gears and they walk around the internal gear 63, which is heldstationary, and thusdrive the disks 59 and the beveled gears causing theshaft 52 to rotate. The direction of rotation of the shaft 52 dependsupon which of the beveled gears 55 or 56 ,is driving, and in turnwhether thevehicle goes forward or backward, or whether the pinion 5|secured to the lower end of the ver- Y swing of the table is to the leftor to the right. However the gear 55 normally produces a forward traveland a left swing and the gear 56 a backward travel and a right swing. Ashovel generally digs off the back of the vehicle, as illustrated inFig. 4, at which time the left swing would effect a backward movement ofthe vehicle in relation to the operators position.

The sun and planet gear arrangement produces a reduction of 3 to 1 inthe drive which is better suited for swinging the table and travelingnear the working location. However when the table is locked and thevehicle is being transported thedent clutch 13 which is splined to theshaft 51 may be engaged with the casting of the internal gear 63,thereby locking the pinion 55 on the shaft 51 and eliminating the 3 to 1reduction created by the sun and planet gears,

2,266,651 in which case the air-set of the swing control may also beused as a brake.

The shaft 51 is provided with a sprocket Tl ,drivedby'means of a chainconnected to the sprocket 15 on the intermediate horizontal drivingshaft 16. A large herringbone gear "(is sey cured to the end of the'shaft '16 and is arranged "to mesh with thepinion 18 secured to theshaft I9 aligned with the internal combustion engine 80 and connectedthereto through the transmission 8| and the clutch 82. The gears of thetransmission are controlled in the ordinary manner by the gear shiftlever 83 at the operator's station through the gear shift rod 84.

The motor clutch 82 is operated by the left hand pedal 85attheoperator's station. The pedal 88 at the extreme right whendepressed sets the pneumatic brakes of the wheels I! and the brake 22 onthe'jack shaft I5 and releases the spring set pneumatic release tablebrake 68.

Thispedal'may be set and locked by depressing and tilting the tread ofthe pedal. The two intermediate pedals 81 and 88 mechanically operatethe'hoist brake 90 and the crowd brake or second drum brake 9|,respectively,"depending on whether'the machine is rigged as a shovel ora crane. These brakes retard or lock the movements of theflrst or hoistdrum 92 and the second drum or crowd 93 on the shaft 16. When rigged asa shovel the second drum 93 is replacedby a sprocket which provides theout crowd, the

in crowd being provided by the sprocket 94 on the shaft 51 which may beoperated by means of a clutch.

- The first and second drums on the shaft 16 are operated by the air-setspring release frictions 95 and 96', which are similar to the frictionsemployed for swinging the table and are controlled by the levers 91 and98 respectively. The frictions 95 and 96 having a sun and planet geararrangement produce a 3 to 1 reduction in the operation of the drums 92and 93. Thus if the second drum 93 is provided with a sprocket tofurnish a crowd out for a shovel, the crowd in, operated by the sprocket94, is three times faster, whichis an important advantage since thecrowd in merely lifts the empty dipper up .."as it swings back intoposition for digging. This promotes faster operation of the machine.

A boom hoist drum I08 ismounted on the shaft 16 between the first drumand the driving sprocket l5 and is provided with a dent clutch l0l whichis operated mechanically by means of the lever This drum may be set bythe ratchet gear I03 and pawl i04 operated by the lever I05. L'I'heselevers are within the grasp of the operator. To lower the boom the hoistor crowd friction and brake are set, thereby locking the shaft. By

slipping the friction the boom is eased down.

The combination drive and swing disclosed herein eliminates a set ofbeveled gears,'a vertical drive shaft, and an air-set spring releasefriction. This reduces the mechanism on the table to a minimum andpermits it to'be positioned to the rear of the center of rotation of thetable, thereby aiding in counterbalancing the load on the boom. Thesimplified table mechanism eliminates many dangers to the individualsworking with the machine and also reduces the cost of the machine. Iclaim:

Mon said base, a consecution of permanently meshed gea'rs providing asolid drive between the turntable and the base for revolving the formerand for propelling the. latter a lever arranged to controlthe operationandthe'rotation -of said gears in either direction, and a secondleverarranged to control the application of the operation of said gears forrevolving the turntable or propelling the base selectively or to.progressively proportion the operation between these two functions.

-2. In a vehicle of the character described, the

combination of a mobilebase, a turntable-mounted on said base, .aconsecution of permanently meshed gears providing a solid drive betweenthe turntable and the base for revolving the former and for propellingthe latter, and single means for proportioning the operation of saidgears to swing the turntable and propel the base, said means beingarranged for progressively changing from one operation to the other.

3. In a vehicle of the character described, the combination of a mobilebase, a turntable mounted on ,said base, a consecution of permanentlymeshed gears providing a solid drive between the turntable and the basefor revolving the former and for'propelling the latter, and single meansfor proportioning the operation of said gears to swing the turntable andpropel the base,

said. means being arranged for progressivelychanging from either one ofsaid operations to the other.

4. In a vehicle of the character described, the combination of ,a mobilebase, a turntablemounted on said 'base, a consecution of permanentlymeshed gears providing a solid drive between the brake means to impedethe swing of the turn- 1. In a vehicle of the character described, the

combination of a mobile base, a turntable mounttable and the travel ofthe base respectively, and unitary means for progressively applying oneof said brake means while relieving the other.

6. In a vehicle of the character described, the combination of a mobilebase, a turntable mounted on said base, a'source .of power arrled by theturntable, a vertical shaft carrie by the tumtable and eccentric to theaxis of the latter and having a pinion secured to the lower end thereof,

said shaft being arranged to be driven by said source of power, a" gearrotatably mounted on the base concentrically of the rotary axis of theturntable and in constant engagement with saidpinion, and a secondpinion engaging said ear and arranged when rotated to propel the baseand when held to permit the first pinion to walk around said base torevolve the turntable.

'7. In a vehicle of the character described, the

combination of a mobile base, a turntable mounted on said base, a sourceof power carried by the turntable, a vertical shaft carried by theturntable and eccentric to the axis of the latter, said shaft beingarranged to be driven by said source of power, a ring gear rotatablysupported on the base concentrically of the turntable, a pinion on theshaft meshing with the ring gear, means ac- 4 tuated by the rotatingring gear for causing the base to travel, and alternatively operatingbrake means for impeding the rotation of the table or the rotation ofthe ring gear.

8. In apparatus of the character described, the

combination of a mobile vehicular chassis, a tumtable rotatably mountedon said chassis, means for retarding and stopping relative movementbetween the turntable and the chassis, a gear rotatably mounted on saidchassis below the tumthe chassis, thereby retarding and stopping therotation of said second pinion and said gear to permit the first pinionto walk around said gear and revolve the turntable.

9. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a mobilevehicular chassis, a turntable rotatably mounted on said chassis, meansfor retarding and stopping relative movement between the turntable andthe chassis, a gear rotatably mounted on said chassis below theturntable and concentric with the rotary axis thereof, a vertical shaftmounted on the turntable eccentrically of the axis thereof and having apinion engaging said gear, a second pinion carried by the chassis andengaging said gear without interfering with the first pinion, saidsecond pinion arranged when rotated to propel the chassis, and means forretarding and stopping the chassis, thereby retarding and stopping therotation of said second pinion and said gear to permit the first pinionto walk around said gear and revolve the turntable, inversely appliedmeans for controlling both of said first mentioned means to impede therotation of the turntable or the travel of the chassis, and unitarymeans for actuating said brake means.

10. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a mobilevehicular chassis,

a turntable rotatably mounted on said chassis,

means for retarding and stopping relative movement between the turntableand the chassis, a gear rotatably mounted on said chassis below theturntable and concentric with the rotary axis thereof, a vertical shaftmounted'on the turntable eccentrically of the axis thereof and having apinion engaging said gear, a second pinion carried by the chassis andengaging said gear without interfering with the first pinion, saidsecond pinion arranged when rotated to propel the chassis, and means forretarding and stopping the chassis, thereby retarding and stopping therotation ofsaid second pinion and said gear. to permit the first pinionto walk around said gear and revolve the turntable, inversely appliedmeans for controlling both of said first mentioned means to impede therotation of the turntable or the travel of the chassis, and unitarymeans for progressively applying one or the other of said brake meanswhile relieving the other.

.11. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of amobile vehicular chassis, a

. turntablerotatably mounted on said chassis, an engine mounted on theturntable, a gear rotatably mounted concentrically of the axis of theturntable "and arranged when rotated to .propel the chassis, a shaftmounted on the turntable eccentrically of the axis thereof and arrangedto be driven by ,the engine, a pinion on said shaft meshing with saidgear, means for holding I the turntable stationary relativeto thechassis to permit the pinion to drive the gear, means for holding thechassis and thereby holding the gear to permit the pinion to walk aroundthe gear and revolve the table, and a lever arranged to control theapplication of the operation of both of said means selectively or toprogressively proportion the operation between these two means.

LELAND O. McLEAN.

